• Home
  • About
  • Middle School ELA Blog: Lit with Lyns
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Lit with Lyns

Book Review & Resources

digital resources· Uncategorized

Save
I’m constantly looking for novels that will not only interest my middle school students, but my 5th grader, as well.  After reading The Dragon of the Month Club by Iain Reading, I knew immediately that this would be a great fit for both my students and my son.  It’s a fantasy that’s aimed towards ages 8-12; however, I can see both older and younger kids enjoying this book.  The book is also the first in a series, and now we can’t wait to see what the next one holds!


Synopsis of book from the publisher:
The Dragon Of The Month Club, by Iain Reading, is the exciting first installment in a new middle-grade (ages 8-12) fantasy book series that tells the story of
Ayana Fall and Tyler Travers, two best friends who stumble across an
extraordinarily magical book and soon find themselves enrolled as
members of a very special and exclusive club – The Dragon of the Month Club.

On the thirteenth of every month a new dragon conjuring spell is revealed and the two friends attempt to summon the latest Dragon of the Month. The varieties are almost endless: Air Dragons, Paper Dragons, Fog Dragons, Waterfall Dragons, Rock Dragons, Tree Dragons – not to mention special bonus dragons for all the major holidays, including a particularly prickly Holly Dragon for Christmas.
But
one day when a conjuring spell somehow goes wrong Ayana and Tyler find
themselves unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical world of adventure based on the various books scattered all across Tyler’s messy bedroom. Travelling from one book-inspired world to the next with nothing to rely on but their wits and a cast of strange and exotic dragons at their disposal they must try to somehow find their way home again.
Drawing inspiration from some of literature’s most memorable stories – from 19th century German folktales to the streets of Sherlock Holmes’s London – the adventures of
Ayana and Tyler bring these classic stories to life in delightfully
strange and unexpected ways. Filled with fascinating detail and non-stop
action these books will spark the imaginations of readers of all ages to inspire a life-long love of reading and seeking out books that are just a little bit off the beaten track.

This book is a great way to delve into an exciting adventure that the two main characters share, as they experience the different settings brought about as they travel from one “book-inspired world to the next.”  Kids AND adults of all ages are sure to love escaping into this story.  
As we read the book, my students completed these digital and printable before, during, and after reading task cards that address the following:  main idea, setting, main and minor characters, compare & contrast, point of view, summarization, predictions, author’s purpose, mood, and more.  It served as a great way to monitor students’ understanding of the book.
For more info and to read an excerpt from the book, go to:  http://bookpublicityservices.com/dragon-month-club-iain-reading/
What fantasy books have you read w/ your students or children?  Fill me in in the comments below.  I’d love to have a running list to add to what I have for my students.
« Creating Videos EASILY Using MySimpleShow
ELA Halloween Resources »

Search

Categories

Latest on Instagram

📚✨ Test Prep Just Got Easier, ELA Teachers! ✨📚 Mi 📚✨ Test Prep Just Got Easier, ELA Teachers! ✨📚  Middle school ELA friends — reviewing literary elements doesn’t have to mean worksheets on repeat. 🙌 Digital & print!  Our Literary Elements Test Prep Series makes review engaging, clear, and student-friendly!  Each term includes:
🎥 A short video clip students will actually watch
📖 A clear, student-friendly definition
✏️ An example in a sentence
🎯 A quick activity to reinforce understanding  Perfect for:
✔️ Spiral review
✔️ Stations
✔️ Bell ringers
✔️ Test prep bootcamp
✔️ Sub plans  Help your students master:
✨ Theme
✨ Plot
✨ Conflict
✨ Characterization
✨ Point of View
✨ Figurative Language
…and more!  Because test prep should build confidence — not boredom. 💡💬  Save this post for your next review day, or click the link in our bio.  #MiddleSchoolELA #ELATeachers #LiteraryElements #TestPrep #ReadingStrategies
💘 Middle School ELA Teachers… this is your Valenti 💘 Middle School ELA Teachers… this is your Valentine’s Day lesson DONE. 💘 Link in bio.  Looking for something fun, rigorous, and zero prep? This Valentine’s Day ELA & Reading Comprehension Digital Escape Room is the perfect way to keep students engaged while reviewing essential skills!  🔐 Students will solve clues by mastering:
• Figurative Language
• Context Clues
• Vocabulary
• Making Inferences
• And more key reading skills!  ✨ 100% Digital
✨ ZERO Prep
✨ Self-checking
✨ High engagement (yes, even in February 😅)  Perfect for 5th–8th grade ELA when you need something meaningful and festive. Just assign and go!  Because Valentine’s Day in middle school should feel exciting… not chaotic. ❤️📚  #MiddleSchoolELA #ReadingComprehension #ELATeachers #DigitalEscapeRoom
Let’s be real—getting students excited about writi Let’s be real—getting students excited about writing isn’t always easy 😅✏️
Link in bio. 
Enter Groovelit 🎮📝
It turns free writing into a fast-paced, game-style experience students actually want to do. Think: short bursts of writing, live leaderboards, instant feedback, and high engagement—all in under 10 minutes.  Perfect for bell ringers, test prep, reluctant writers, and those days you need maximum impact with minimal prep 🙌  If your students love Kahoot, they’ll LOVE Groovelit… and you’ll love watching writing stamina and confidence grow.  ✨ Less groans. More words. Real results.
#ELAteachers #WritingEngagement #GamifiedLearning #TeacherTools #SecondaryELA
🏅 ELA TEACHERS—YOU’RE GOING FOR GOLD 🏅 🥇The Readin 🏅 ELA TEACHERS—YOU’RE GOING FOR GOLD 🏅
🥇The Reading & Writing Olympics are live!🥇  12 teacher-sellers and I are sharing FREE Olympic-themed reading & writing activities designed to boost engagement while still hitting those essential standards. Perfect for grades 6–12 and easy to drop into your lesson plans.  ✔️ Reading comprehension
✔️ Writing & critical thinking
✔️ High engagement, low prep
✔️ Olympics theme students LOVE  Grab the freebies and let your students compete their way to stronger skills! 🏆 Link in bio.
I jumped on the @chatgpt trend, and it pretty much I jumped on the @chatgpt trend, and it pretty much nailed my life! #chatgpt #teacherlıfe #baseballmom
❄️🏅 Winter Olympics Reading Escape Room | Grades 5 ❄️🏅 Winter Olympics Reading Escape Room | Grades 5–8 🏅❄️  Looking for a high-engagement ELA activity that feels like a game but hits tons of standards? This Winter Olympic–Themed Reading Comprehension Escape Room is the perfect digital + printable solution for middle school teachers (grades 5–8)—and it’s ZERO PREP 🙌 Link in bio.  Students work through exciting Olympic-themed passages and challenges while practicing essential reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. They’ll be so focused on “escaping” they won’t even realize how much learning is happening!  ✨ Skills Covered:
✔️ Main Idea & Supporting Details
✔️ Characterization
✔️ Making Inferences
✔️ Theme
✔️ Figurative Language
✔️ Author’s Purpose
✔️ Text Structure
✔️ Context Clues
✔️ Vocabulary Development  📌 Why teachers love it:
• No prep, just assign & go
• Works for whole class, small groups, centers, or sub plans
• Perfect for winter, Olympic season, or anytime engagement is needed
• Great for test prep without the boredom  If you’re searching for a fun, standards-aligned ELA escape room that keeps middle school students motivated and learning, this Winter Olympics resource is a gold medal win 🥇  #MiddleSchoolELA #ReadingComprehension #EscapeRoomELA #WinterOlympicsELA #ELAResources
Just about finished with this Winter Olympics 2026 Just about finished with this Winter Olympics 2026 Digital AND Printable Escape Room! ❄️🏅 Middle School ELA teachers—this one’s a GOLD medal win! 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 🥇𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞.  Need a fun way to hit multiple standards without planning for hours?
This Winter Olympics ELA Escape Room has you covered!  🔐 As students race to unlock each room, they’ll practice:
✔️ Theme
✔️ Main Idea & Supporting Details
✔️ Making Inferences
✔️ Critical Thinking
✔️ Context Clues
✔️ Characterization
✔️ Figurative Language
✔️ AND more!  ✨ Engaging
✨ Standards-aligned
✨ Low prep (hello sanity!)
✨ Perfect for middle school readers  Your students stay motivated, you stay on pace, and everyone wins 🏆  📚❄️ Ready to bring the Olympic excitement into ELA?
#MiddleSchoolELA #ELAteachers #EscapeRoomLearning #WinterOlympicsELA

Copyright © 2026 · Becca Paro Design Co.